News from Earth and Fire -- June 30, 2005
Lisa Buck and her mentor, Linda ChristiansonI met Linda Christianson in 1998 or 1999 -- quite early in my journey into the wonderful world of great pots. I was in Minneapolis, making a "pilgrimage" to the studio of Warren MacKenzie, determined to obtain one of his teapots (I'm a big teapot fan), and it happened that the weekend I went was the weekend of the fall show of the Potters of the Upper Saint Croix River Valley.
The local potter who acted as my guide to Warren's studio told me about the show at Linda's that weekend, and gave me directions. It was a beautiful, crisp fall day and as my friend Sue and I approached Linda's studio, we saw that cars were parked alongside the road for maybe a quarter of a mile. We found a spot and walked the rest of the way. There were makeshift tables set up around the lawn, full of pots from many different potters. I may have heard the name Linda Christianson, but I know I was unaware of her work, and if I did see any of it that day at the sale (it's entirely possible it was all sold well before we got there), I didn't buy any that day. We wandered around for a while, enjoying the diverse selection, and picking up the pots that "belonged to us." When our arms were full, we headed over to the checkout line.
As we waited, a wonderfully friendly woman began chatting with us. Had we had a good time? How far had we had to walk? Was it too far? Had we been to the sale before?
We joked with her that she was like the greeter at a church service -- making sure everyone felt welcome.
I told her that I had come all the way from Washington, D.C. that weekend.
"Oh!" she said brightly. "I'm going to be giving a workshop there in two weeks at the Hinckley studio."
"Really?!" I said with excitement. "I wonder if I can get in at this late date?"
She assured me that she would make sure I could. Just tell them that "Linda said it was OK."
We laughed and I promised that I would see her in a couple of weeks.
I did go to the workshop a couple of weeks later, and have been a huge fan of Linda's work ever since. She doesn't send me work very often for the gallery, but when I call her and grovel to her to please send me whatever she can, she's always SO NICE about telling me she just doesn't have any to spare.
A year or so when I made my semi-annual grovel call, she told me about a wonderful potter that she was mentoring, Lisa Buck. She assured me that Lisa made wonderful pots and I should give her a call.
If you are unfamiliar with Linda's work, see a few examples here:
Linda Christianson • Minnesota Potters Tour and Sale of the Upper Saint Croix River Valley
I think you'll see the influence she has obviously had on Lisa's work.
4 1/2" tall X 4" wide X 3" deep -- $40.
What great markings on this side where the glaze dripped a bit!
A taller vase from Lisa:
7 1/2" tall X 6 1/2" wide X 5" deep - $90
A small bowl (wouldn't salsa look great in this bowl?!)
2 1/2" tall X 5" in diameter -- $20
A syrup pitcher and saucer:
Saucer - 1 1/2" X 6 1/4" in diameter
Pitcher - 5" tall (including handle) X 5" (handle to spout)
Set - $65
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